Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Consultancy (Telemedicine Project)

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Consultancy (Telemedicine Project)

CONSULTANCY BACKGROUD

Living Goods believes that telemedicine can be a key enabler in the healthcare journey of households if designed well and tailored to the needs and care-seeking behaviours of underserved communities. With funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Living Goods Kenya is currently implementing a 2-year (January 2022- December 2023) Telemedicine Project in Busia County aimed at designing and piloting a virtual model of care that links households in last mile communities with CHWs and higher-level health services. Our hypothesis is that by integrating CHWs and virtual models of care, we can increase access to health services and create greater efficiencies in CHW models overall. Many telemedicine providers in the private and public sectors exclude CHWs as part of their service offering and modalities of care. Through this project, Living Goods and CIFF aim to fill this gap in the sector through our proposed intervention and innovative approach and aspire to advance the research and evidence base on novel telemedicine and virtual care models that are inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of underserved communities.

PURPOSE AND THE OBJECTIVES OF CONSULTANCY

The proposed hybrid virtual support service run by Community Health Workers (CHWs) is a novel intervention that to an extent redefines how CHWs interact with their communities. LG seeks to assess the impact of the proposed virtual service on the households, community health workers, and the overall community health system in the target pilot area (Busia, Kenya).

Living Goods seeks a Monitoring & Evaluation (MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning)) consultant to lead the Telemedicine Project’s MERL activities. Under the direction of the Telemedicine Project Manager and Senior MERL Manager, the consultant will be responsible for providing high-quality technical MERL support and leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive MERL plan, including defining measures of success, key learning questions, results in framework, designing data collection tools, supporting baseline data collection, and providing a plan for the anticipated endline impact evaluation. The MERL plan and consultant’s approach will need to support rapid learning cycles to inform going iterations of the design.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The objectives of the consultancy are as followings:

1. To develop a comprehensive MERL plan, including defining measures of success, key learning questions, results in framework, refining our Theory of Change, designing data collection tools, supporting baseline data collection, and providing a plan for the anticipated endline impact evaluation.
2. To develop a focused cost-effectiveness measurement plan, including indicators, and methodology (NB this should be an integrated component of the MERL plan)
3. Directly overseeing and coordinating baseline data collection, and providing the baseline report
4. Designing the overall study and sampling criteria including preparing a relevant and detailed study design, the design should be robust enough to demonstrate the impact of the telemedicine project.
5. Develop a data collection methodology and tools, train recruit and contract research assistants (as needed), and oversee data collection with support from Living Goods branch teams.

TIMELINES & REPORTING

This consultancy will cover the first phase (MERL design, set up, and baseline) of the MERL work underpinning the experiment, with the potential for renewal to support further phases during the experiment. This role will be a 4-month consultancy, ideally starting Mid October at the latest. (Approximately 30 days)

DELIVERABLES

The consultant will deliver:

1. Comprehensive MERL plan (experimental design, Theory of change, results in framework, methodology)
2. Project cost-effectiveness assessment plan.
3. Protocols and data collection tools for the project baseline and ongoing monitoring.
4. Baseline report and a plan for ongoing monitoring activities and endline assessments for the Telemedicine project.
5. Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis report for the Telemedicine project.

SPECIFICATION CRITERIA

The consultant would meet the following criteria:

• Significant professional experience and M&E skill set in supporting MERL for MNCH (Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health), Community Health
• Experience in designing and executing high-quality MERL plans.
• Experience in field research, including qualitative & quantitative data collection methodologies
• Understanding of developing M&E systems appropriate for innovation and rapid learning cycles
• Ability to triangulate data and critical analysis
• Ability to produce high-quality M&E reports and presentations
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing cost-effectiveness studies
• Ability to spend 30% of the time in the field in Busia to conduct research and oversee data collection.
• Clear communication style and ability to work as a team

BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES

Please submit the following proposal documents to the online form by Sunday 16th October. Interviews may happen on a rolling basis during the submission period.

Proposals shall include:

1. CV detailing relevant qualifications and experience of key personnel delivering the assignment.
2. A cover letter summarising:
   1. Why you are the best fit for the consultancy and meet the specification criteria
   2. Links to examples of previous MERL work
   3. Day rate and proposed total budget (fees and expenses disaggregated)